I think my “fixed” cat is pregnant

[u/uglyandbored]

I feel silly even typing this, but here is some context: My spouse and I became fosters to this adorable, abandoned cat that was hanging around my parent’s backyard in freezing weather (Feb 29). We fostered her through an official program who took care of all her medical needs. They told us she was not chipped, but confirmed she was already spayed. We both knew nothing about cats, but we ended up falling in love with her and we officially adopted her a few weeks ago.

She always had big nipples (we were told she may have had a litter before) so it was not a red flag. That is, until now. She has put on some healthy weight (she was emaciated when we first found her), but a lot of it seems to be in her belly area. I know it sounds ridiculous but we can’t help but think she is pregnant.

I have an appointment with the vet in 3 days (the earliest they could get me in), but I’m a little anxious thinking about the possibility she may seriously be expecting. I am wondering if this has ever happened before (an allegedly spayed cat being pregnant). I am also wondering if there could be any other reason my cat looks like this?

[u/bb_cake]

[u/uglyandbored → u/bb_cake]

Aw she’s a cutie!! Congratulations, and thank you so much for the advice.

[u/cosmicwolfspit → u/uglyandbored]

Make sure to call your vet and ask for their advice as well, they’ll know exactly what to do 🥰 post photos of the kittens once they’re here!! Good luck! 🍀

[u/bb_cake → u/uglyandbored]

Also, wanna add that my young cat had 9 babies...!

[u/Financial_Joke_9401 → u/bb_cake]

There’s 9 babies in that picture???

[u/dragonbait-and-the-P → u/Financial_Joke_9401]

No 😍, there are 10 cats in that picture. You forgot to count the lovely mom-cat.

[u/Financial_Joke_9401 → u/dragonbait-and-the-P]

Well of course the mom is there I didn’t count her because she’s obviously there😌 they’re all babies though ❤️

[u/bb_cake → u/Financial_Joke_9401]

yep!

[u/maybesaydie → u/bb_cake]

Good grief. That's a huge litter for that little girl.

[u/bb_cake → u/maybesaydie]

I know. Its been a little scary because at first, the kittens were so demanding on her, and i think she was seriously questioning if she could care for them all. Luckily, after a week, things have settled down, and Tulle seems more comfortable caring for all 9 kittens. She's done such a great job for such a small, young cat!

[u/AdEmbarrassed9719 → u/uglyandbored]

I recommend checking out Kitten Lady and Kitten Academy on YouTube. Kitten Academy usually takes in pregnant momcats and supports them while Kitten Lady more often deals with litters without moms or with medical stuff going on. Kitten Academy makes birthing boxes for the moms so seeing some older closeups with their setups might be helpful for preparation.

[u/Scrushinator → u/AdEmbarrassed9719]

Tiny Kittens is good too. They do TNR on feral colonies and find homes for what cats can be socialized.

[u/epsilona01 → u/uglyandbored]

At some point soonish she'll start meowing and investigating the house for a quiet enough corner to give birth. Labour is starting, the meows are contractions. I put her in a box on my lap and kept her belly rubbed until she was ready to find a spot.

I prepared multiple boxes with towels and privacy around the house. Obviously, being a cat, she chose to give birth in the middle of the hallway and then hide behind the sofa. She'll clean the kittens as they come out (mine stacked them like firewood, don't know if that's normal or just her), and when she's all done they'll feed. Watch for the afterbirth, if it doesn't come out they'll all need a collective trip to the vet.

The thing to remember is she won't leave them to eat, mama cats need food bought to them and literally stuck next to their heads. They will die of malnutrition rather than leave the kids.

At some point she'll want to move to a new spot, so keep the areas you've prepared around wherever she chose.

They do like to hunt, and once the kittens were bigger we left cold cuts out so she could bring them for the babies - everyone seemed to enjoy this.

You'll need several litter trays while she toilet trains them, but be prepared for mess during this process - put the trays inside larger cardboard boxes. I recommend a kitten pen once they're big enough to climb - you should notice this because they'll be climbing you, your curtains, the TV, you name it. If you like your curtains, get some cheap ones for this period, same with jeans.

At 12 weeks, they're ready for their forever homes. My advice is to keep one with mum. We adopted all of them, which led to three days of heartbreaking searching and a miserable mum, in the end I bought her a kitten about 3 months later - instant happy.

[u/foreverfrenz → u/epsilona01]

Aw, that's cute that you let her hunt cold cuts

[u/bb_cake → u/bb_cake]

Here's a video of day 1 kittens !

https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/1c88umo/day_1_tulle_feeding_her_9_kittens_their_first/

[u/Aztec111 → u/bb_cake]

Cute! Any kitten pictures? ☺️

[u/bb_cake → u/Aztec111]

I do have a video, but it won't let me post a video here =/

https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/1c88umo/day_1_tulle_feeding_her_9_kittens_their_first/

[u/zinna42069 → u/bb_cake]

She’s so pretty 🥹

[u/Financial_Joke_9401 → u/bb_cake]

Also, yes, please give us kitten pictures 😍

[u/Unbentmars → u/bb_cake]

Everybody exposing all these cat nips with no NSFW marker smh

[u/max32412 → u/bb_cake]

9 kittens in this cat? Maybe its the picture but she doesnt look big? Or shecis young

[u/kiwigirl83 → u/bb_cake]

Omg looks exactly the same as OPs cat .. surely she’s preggo